We are very fortunate to have such experienced staff – all specialists in their field – and we thank them for the time and effort put in to help every student achieve. Excellent exam results and delightful performances are in no small way due to the dedication of our staff.
Artistic Director
Rosemary Frost – A.R.A.D. (Reg. RAD) – M.S.F.D. - I.D.T.A.
Trained in Zimbabwe and at the Royal Ballet School, London, appearing in several productions with the Royal Opera Ballet at Covent Garden, Rosemary is an associate and registered teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance and a qualified teacher of Modern Dance (I.D.T.A.). She taught on the faculty of the College of Music and Performing Arts in Frankfurt, Germany and examined for the G.D.B.A. in Hessen. She also trained and coached the members of the Ballet Frankfurt.
Rosemary was a member of both the CAPAB in South Africa and the Frankfurt Ballet Companies and has performed many major roles including Odette/Odile in Swan Lake; Myrtha in Giselle; Sugar Plum Fairy (Nutcracker) plus works by George Balanchine, Jiri Kylian and William Forsythe. After merging her own school with Ringwood Ballet in 1993 Rosemary became Artistic Director in 1995. In 2008 she was made a Life Member of the Royal Academy of Dance.
As Artistic Director, Rosemary is responsible for all creative, artistic and teaching decisions within the group including decisions relating to syllabus and productions. She oversees the teaching staff ensuring that the quality of teaching remains high. |
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ClassicalSusan Massey - R.A.D. (RTS) – I.S.T.D. – C.D.T.A.
The former Artistic Director of Ringwood Ballet Group, Susan is an experienced and highly qualified teacher having taught in the UK, New Zealand and Australia. She currently works with the RAD programme at the Victorian College of the Arts, and also teaches at seminars and workshops for the RAD within Australia. Susan teaches the Vocational levels at Ringwood Ballet, and brings her expertise to coaching senior students for the Annual Production. She is a life member of the Royal Academy of Dance. |
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Janine Box – Dip. Arts (Dance), Dip. Ed., B. Ed.
Janine graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1982. She has danced with the Russian Theatrical Society and the Russian Folkloric Dance Company of Melbourne. She has performed a number of character roles (such as Widow Simone and an Ugly Step-Sister) for Ringwood Ballet. Janine is one of our classical teachers. Janine has a degree in Early Childhood Development from the University of Melbourne. |
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Susan Margaret Hill – L.R.A.D. - A.R.A.D.
Susan is an experienced teacher of 30 years. Her teacher training was at the Royal Academy of Dance in London where she gained her Diploma for Licentiate and teaching qualifications. Her teaching experience has been in the Graded and Vocational levels. She is a former Graded Examiner for the RAD with 10 years of examining internationally and in Australia, and now freelance teaches throughout Australia for RAD panel events at Graded and Vocational Courses and is a Practical Teaching Supervisor/Tutor on the RAD’s Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies. Susan currently teachers on the RAD program at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and has recently gained her Certificate IV in Pilates Instruction. |
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Melanie Coad
Melanie continues this year as a trainee Teacher. Melanie completed the RAD Advanced 2 exam in 2008 achieving a Distinction and passed the SFD Level 10 exam with Highly Commended. She is currently studying dance Teaching and Management at Box Hill TAFE and working towards the SFD Jazz teaching Certificate. | |
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TapTerry Surtees – B.B.0. (Tap) – M.S.F.D.
Terry trained in the UK and is a qualified teacher of the B.B.O. and S.F.D. She is also a Tap examiner for the S.F.D. Terry has performed in Pantomime and also with the Whitehorse Musical Theatre. She teaches Tap at Ringwood Ballet. |
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Beth Wentworth
We welcome Beth to our staff as a Trainee teacher. Beth has trained exclusively with RBG for more than 10 years and has recently completed her SFD Level 10 Tap exam. Beth also holds the Level 9 Certificate in Jazz (SFD) and has passed the RAD Advanced Foundation level classical exam – both are qualifying levels for further teacher training. She has acted as an assistant teacher alongside the experienced staff for the past year or so and has also gained experience coaching Gymnastics regularly. Beth is working towards her teaching qualifications and we wish her every success. |
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JazzAshlee Hodges – M.S.F.D
Ashlee is our senior Jazz teacher. Ashlee, a former student of this school, completed 3 years at VCA and has performed with Ajkun Ballet in New York and the Tasmanian Ballet in Hobart. Ashlee is a Trainee examiner for the new Southern Federation of Dance ‘Dance Fusion’ Syllabus. |
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Wendy Dalton - Graduate Diploma Choreography (VCA) - Diploma in Dance Teaching and Management (TAFE) – MSFD (Examiner)
Wendy comes to us with a wealth of experience having worked with such renowned choreographers and directors as: Joe Latona, Jillian Fitzgerald, Jeanette Liddell, Coral Deague, Barbara Warren-Smith and Ross Skiffington. Wendy also studied in Los Angeles in 1984 and her professional career includes: The Ernie Sigely Tonight Show – Bert Newton Midday Show – The Don Lane Show as well as special events including Logies, Royal Command Performances and Olympic Prime Ministers Dinners. Wendy has also performed in Evita, Iolanthe and Red Hot and Rhonda. Wendy is an examiner for the SFD and also adjudicates at many Dance Festivals. We welcome her to our staff this year. |
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Kathryn Noble
Kathryn holds the Level 9 Certificate in Jazz (SFD) and has passed the RAD Advanced Foundation level classical exam – both are qualifying levels for further teacher training.
Kathryn is a long time student of RBG and continues to work towards the final and highest levels of exams in Classical and jazz. She has worked alongside our staff for a number of years as an assistant teacher and we are very pleased to have her on staff as a trainee teacher, as she works towards her teaching qualifications and wish her every success. |
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CharacterJayne Robertson
We welcome Jayne into the school this year to teach our Character classes. Jayne received her early training in classical and character at Ringwood Ballet School. She then went on to dance with the Russian Theatrical Society, the Russian Folkloric Dance Company of Melbourne and Kalinka Dance Company. Jayne also has a B.A in Textile Design from RMIT. |
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Pianists
Sarah Cossey A.Mus.A
Sarah joined the staffing 2007. Sarah is studying Music at Melbourne University and will accompany selected classes and exams in 2012. |
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